Apparatus for unwrapping yarn-chains.



H W. OWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

7 APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, l9l5- 1,212,668, Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

fl Z116 n tar 7 LOW H. W OWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 1. 1915. 1,212,668. Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEET$SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEETSHSHEET 3.

Inventor dt y.

H W. GWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY I, I915.

H W. OWEN.

APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING YARN CHAINS.

' APPLICATION HLED JULY 1. 1915- 1,Q12,668, I Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ED sA Es PAENT OFFIO HERBERT w. OWEN, OF EWISTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BYMEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To DRAPER COBPORATION, .OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF I, Application filed July 1915- serial To all whom it mayconcern Be it known that I, HERBERT W. OwEN, a citizen of. the UnitedStates, residing at Lewiston, county of Androscoggin, and State ofMaine, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus'for Unw'rapping Yarn-Chains, of which the following descnptlon, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to machines for unwrapping from yarn chains thecord or thread by which the yarns oi: the cha1n are held together duringthe dyeing, bleachlng, or similar process. After the wrapped yarn chainhas been d ed, bleached, or similarly treated and drie it is necessaryto remove the wrapping cord or thread before the yarn can be wound uponbeams for use as warp or upon bobbins, quills, or the like for use asfilling. Means have heretofore been devised for this purpose wherein thewrapping cord or thread was unwound from the yarn chain and placed upona receiver as the yarn chain was drawn through the unwrapping mechanismby means acting upon the unwrapped portion of the yarn chain. In suchclass of machines, however, it is desirable that the wrapping cord orthread shall depart from the yarn chain at an angle sufiiciently obtuseto prevent the wrapping cord or thread .from clinging to the yarn chain,and such angle is dependent upon the relative linear speed of the yarnchain and rotary speed of the flier or unwrapping mechanism. Inrecognition of this fact in the prior machines above mentioned,adjustable means were provided for drawing the yarn chain through themachine whereby the operator, was enabled to adjust the speed ratio ofthe yarn chain and flier or unwrapping mechanism. This drawing means,however, acted upon a portion of the yarn chain after it has beenunwrapped, with the result that the linear travel or speed of thewrapped chain as it approached the unwrapping mechanism was not uniformowing to the various disturbing causes between the source of yarn chainsupply and the drawing means, and consequently, the point at which thewrapping cord or thread left the yarn chain constantly varied, as didalso the angle of its departure.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

' j ArPAnA' UsEOn UNWRAPPING YARN-CHAINS.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

With these facts in view, one of the Objects of the present invention isto provide means whereby the rotary speed of the flier or unwrappingmechanism and the linear speed of the yarn chain as it approaches saidflier or mechanism may be proportioned to properly locate the point ofdeparture of the wrapping cord or thread from the yarn chain and suchproportion be continuously maintained, whereby the desired angle atwhich the wrapping cord or thread leaves the yarn chain may besubstantially constant.

To this end the present invention provides means to act upon the wrappedportion of the yarn chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism forpositively drawing the wrapped chain from the Source of supply andfeeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, and means acting upon theyarn chain after it has been unwrapped for maintaining it under uniformtension as it is supplied by the positive drawing and feeding means.This feature of the invention, while applicable to the unwinding ofsingle yarn chains, has special importance where several yarn chainshave been wrapped together for the bleaching or dyeing process. In thisevent, the present invention proposes to separate the several yarnchains immediately after the wrapping cord or thread has been unwoundtherefrom, and to pass each of the Separated yarn chains to separatemeans for maintaining them under Suitable tension as they pass from theunwrapping mechanism. As the unwound yarn chains are thus separated,some of the yarns of one chain are liable to cling or stick to the yarnsof another yarn chain, and be broken, therefore, a further importantfeature of the present invention contemplates means for detaching anysuch clinging yarns from an adjacent yarn chain to which it does notbelong and causing it to follow its own yarn chain. Should such clingingyarn or yarns fail to be thus separated from a yarn chain to which itdoes not belong, a further feature of the invention consists in means tostop the machine, in order that the attendant may disentangle the yarnor yarns before they break.

The above and other features of the invention will best be made clearfrom the following description and accompanying drawings of one goodpractical form of the invention, it being understood that details ofsaid illustrated means may be changed within the true scope of theinvention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a general side elevation showing anapparatus embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view,showing more particularly the unwinding mechanism, illustrated at theright in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing thewrapped chain positive drawing and feeding means, the unwrapped chaintension means, and certain features of stopping mechanism; Fig. 4 is arear view of the parts shown by Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detached detailshowing more particularly and diagrammatically the wrapped chain drawingand feeding cones and the unwrapped chain tension means,

- looking in the general direction indicated by the arrow (1, F ig. 3,some of the parts being shown in section; and Fig. (i is a dctail sideelevation looking from the left, Fig. 4, of means for operating thedelivery spouts for the unwrapped yarn chains.

The invention is shown and will hereinafter he described as embodied oremployed in an apparatus for treating two yarn chains that have beendyed or bleached whilebound together by a wrapping cord or thread, butit is to be understood that the invention is not restricted in thisrespect, be cause it may and in some cases will be employed for treatinga greater munber of yarn chains wrapped by a cord or thread; and, as tosome features, it is adapted for the treatment of a single wrapped yarnchain, all of which, however, will be clear to those skilled in the art.

The mechanism for unwinding the wrapping cord or thread from the yarnchain or chains, and placing it upon a receiver for subsequent use, maybe of any appropriate character, but as herein shown comprises the frame1 on which is mounted the shaft 2 provided with fast and loose pulleys 3and 4. A pinion or gear wheel 5 on the shaft 2 transmits rotativemovement through an idler 6 and gear 7 to the shaft 8. These parts, aswell as the flier 9, the receiver or spool 10, its traversing cam 11 andconnections for transmitting appropriate uniform unwinding rotarymovement to the flier and traversing movements to the receiver or spool10 from the shaft 2 may all be substantially as described in the UnitedStates patent to H. F. Straw, No. 550,656.

Pivotally mounted on an arm 12 projecting from the frame 1, is a beltshipper 13 to which is connected a spring 14 normally acting to throwthe belt shipper 13 in position to move the belt 15 from the fast to theloose pulley on the shaft 2. Extending from the belt shipper 13 is anarm 16 adapt- Leashes ed to be engaged by a latch 17, Fig. 1, pivoted at18 to retain the belt shipper from movement responsive to the spring 14;with the driving belt 15 on the fast or driving pulley, the constructionbeing such that when the belt shipper is moved to place the bolt on thetight pulley, the latch 17 will retain it in such position until saidlatch is rocked clockwise, Fig. 1, as will hereinafter appear, whereuponthe belt shipper will be released to the action of the spring 14 toplace the belt upon the loose pulley and stop the winding mechanism. Thelatch 17 has an upper portion whereby, as pointed out in the patentabovementioned, the un winding mechanism may be stopped when thewrapping cord or thread 20 breaks or becomes too slack.

From the construction above described, it will be apparent that theflier or unwrapping mechanism will rotate at a substantially constantand uniform speed, once its operation has been established; and if thelinear speed of the wrapped portion of the yarn chain can be onceproperly proportioned to the rotary speed of the flier or unwrappingmechanism and thereafter be continuously maintained, the point at whichthe wrapping cord or thread leaves the yarn chain and consequently theangle of its departure will remain substantially constant.

At a suitable osition relative to the unwinding mechamsm, a support isprovided, which is conveniently formed as a frame 21 generally ofrectangular form suspended by hangers 22 from an overhead support, suchas the ceiling, but, of course, the frame may be otherwise sustained.

Mounted in suitable bearings 22 secured to the opposite side members ofthe frame 21 is the head shaft 23 which may be operated at uniform speedfrom connection with the winding mechanism, as will more fully appear.Secured to rotate with the shaft 23 is the main drawing and feeding cone24 preferably faced with some yielding material, such as leather or thelike, and similarly secured to said shaft are the main tension rolls 25.The number of such tension rolls will vary in accordance with the numberof yarn chains that have been wrapped together by the wrapping cord orthread. In the illustrated form of the invention, twoof such rolls areshown, and eachis preferably provided with side flanges 26. Fig. 5.

The main drawing and feeding cone is to act upon the wrapped portion ofthe yarn chain and positively draw it from a suitable supply and feed ittoward the uuwrapping mechanism at a uniform predetermined linear speed,and the purpose of the tension rolls 25 is to act upon the unwrappedportion or portions of the yarn chain after they have passed theunwrapping mechanism to maintain them under constant tension and deliverthem to the delivery chutes. Tojinsure this relative action of thedrawing and feeding cone and the tension rolls, the latter are made ofsomewhat greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the drawing and.feeding.

cone, see Fig. 5 and since theremay be some slip between the'unwrappedportions of the yarn chain and the tension rolls, the'latter arepreferably made with smooth surfaces calculated to permit such slipwithout injurious effect upon the unwrapped portions of the yarn chains,while the surface of the drawing and feeding cone is made of a moreadhesive character to effect positive move-. ment of theunwrappedyarn'chain therewith. p

The described character of the main drawing and feeding cone by itsengagement with thewrapped portion of the yarn chain imparts thereto apositive drawing movement from the source of supply and toward theunwrapping mechanism; and further to enjusted position and to which arepivotally mounted at 28 the arms29'. Adjustably secured upon the arms 29are thebliocks 30 carrying appropriate bearings 31 for the shaft 32 onwhich the idle rolls 33 are loosely mounted. It will be understood, ofcourse, that there is. one roll 33 cooperating with each of the tensionrolls 25.v The shaft 32 may be securedfromendwise movement by means ofcollars 34 secured thereon as indicated in Fig. 4'. I I 1 Looselymounted upon the shaft 32 are the arms 35, the", end portions of whichare provided with bearings 36 for the shafft' of the idle cone 37. Thearms 35 carrying the idle cone 37 may be held from longitudinal movementonthe shaft '32 by suitable collars- 38, the construction being suchthat the idle rolls 33' will'coact with the tension rolls 25 beneathand'that the idle cone 37 will likewise coact with the main driving andfeeding cone 24. The idle rolls 33 and the idle cone 37 are preferablyprovided with a surface 39 formed of leather or other like material.

from a source of supply as at The yarn. chain to be unwrappeId is takea,

, 1g. 1, an

it passes,

passes asindicated. by the; arrows lover-Ya. suitable guide such'iasthepulley. 40,-whence. as indicated in Fig. 3, over. the,

top of the idle cone 37 and between the idle cone and the main drivingand-feeding cone 24 from the bottom .ofwhich itsncourse 1s;v

deflected upward to" a suitable guide such as 41, Fig.1, preferablylocated directly over the unwinding mechanism. filnplthei illus-, tratedembodiment of the invention, thewrapped chain is composed of twoseparatechains wrapped by the same wrapping cord or thread, and as itpasses'downward from the guide 41 to the unwrapping mechanism, thewrapping cord or thread isunwrapped therefrom as indicated in Fig. l,whereupon the now unwrapped portions of the chain pass downward about aguide 42. from which:

the two unwrapped chains pass'to the ten+ sion rolls 25 which. deliverthem through suitable laying 'chutes to be hereinafter described,whereby they are arrangedin piles B either on the floor or in suitablerecep tacles. Q Mounted upon the head shaft 23 is a belt pulley 43 whichis .operativelyconnected to the shaft 2 of the unwinding mechanism by abelt 44, Figs. 1 and 2,. the-construction being such thatthe speedsofrotation Of the positive drawing and'feeding cone andtension rolls ontheshaft -23iwill be dependent upon or 'proportioned-tolthe speed of; ro-

tation of the shaft 2 of the unwrapping mechanism, and consequentlyi'the linear speed of the wrapped yarn'f chain' and the rotating speed"of the -Junwrapping mechanism wlll maintain a substantially fixedrelation, which is not subjected .to' variation due to stretching of theunwrapped-portion of the yarn chain, and therefore the angleo'fdeparture ofthe '-wrapping cord: or; thread from the yarn chain :willremainlconstant,

the tension rolls 25 acting upon 'jlthe-unwrapped' portions of the yarnchains merely to keep them under tension and deliver to the deliverychutes.

. 5; The desired relation between the linear speed of the wrapped'chain"and the rotary speed of the unwrapping'mechanism may be varied to the.=necessitiesioffieach case. by

them

. causing the wrapped yarn chain toapass about the main "drivingandafeeding cone at different portions of its-length; and to this endsuitable means .mayzbe provided for directing;v the yarn chain to thedesired. portion of the said cone; .In the illustrated form of theinvention, this resultis effected by means of a shaft 45 carried insuitable bearings 46 and held from longitudinal movement as by thecollar 47. This shaft 45 is provided with a hand-piece 48 by which itmay be rotated as desired, and

mounted upon a screw-threaded portion 49 of said shaft is a block 50which is threaded thereto. The block 50. has a guide 51 usua throu hwhich the wrapped yarn chain is passe and by which it may be directed tothe drawing and feeding cones.

It happens'at times that the wrapped yarn chain as it is positivelydrawn from the source of supply, as hereinbefore indicated, will snarl,and it is desirable under such conditions that means be provided to stopthe machine. To this end, the block 50 which, as described, is mountedupon the screw-threaded shaft 45, has pivoted thereto an arm 52, Figs. 1and 3, to which is adjustably connected a collar 53 having a guide 54through which the wrapped yarn chain passes. The arm 52 is connected toa suitable stopping mechanism whereby, upon lifting movement of saidarm, the machine will be brought to rest. A good practical form of suchstopping mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ascomprising a connection 55 between the collar 53 and arm 56 secured to ashaft 57 mounted in bearings 58-extending from the frame 21. The shaft57 has extending therefrom an arm 59 joined by a connection 60 with anarm 61 pivotally mounted on theframe of the machine and which is itselfconnected to the latch 17 by a link 62, the

construction being such that upon movement of the rock shaft clockwise,Figs. 1

and 3, the latch 17 will free theshipper 13 and cause the belt to bethrown to the loose pulley.

As the plural yarn chains after being unwrapped pass from the unwrappingmechamm to the tension rolls, they are appropriately supported anddirected to their respective tension rolls. In the present form of theinvention, this is conveniently effected,

by providing the'frame 21 with the downwardly extending lugs 63, Fig. 3,to which is adjustably connected as at-64, the bracket arms 65 providedwith bearings in their lower lportions for the guide shaft 66. Adjustabymounted, upon the guide shaft 66 are the collars 67, each of whichcarries a guide 68 for one of the unwrapped yarn chains 69 and 70, Fig.4. j

When the wrapping cord or thread is unwraplped from the yarn chains, thelatter y adhere to one another as they pass downward and about the guideroll 42, and until thev deflection of the individual yarn chains towardtheir respective guides 68. Should this adhesion between the individualyarn chains be not. readily overcome by the deflection of said yarnchains toward their "respective guides 68, injury to the yarn 1,212,ece

movement of the separate yarn chains 69, 70. One of these sto arms maybe conveniently formed by t e arm 56 which, as hereinbefore described,"is joined to the arm 52 by the flexible connection 55. The other stoparm 71 may be secured to the rock shaft 57 and like the arm 56, extendsbeyond the plane of movement of the separate yarn chains 69, 70. Thesearms 56 and 71 are preferably so located with respect to the guides 68that should the yarn chains 69 and 70 fail to separate as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 4, one or the other there- 'of will meet one of thearms 56 or 71 and cause the rock shaft 57 to be rocked clockwise, Fig.3, thereby effecting machine stop page, as hereinbefore explained.

Where a plurality of yarn chains are subjected to the dyeing orbleaching operation while wrapped together by a wrapping cord or thread,a yarn of one chain is liable to cling to or become entangled with theyarns of another chain; and when the yarn c ains are separated ashereinbefore described, such clinging or snarled yarn is liable to bebroken as the yarn chains pass through their respective guides to thetension rolls. To overcome this objection, and to preserve the integrityof all yarns of the chains, means are provided for insuring that suchclinging or entangled yarn shall be detached from the chain to which itdoes not belong and consequently be not broken as the separated yarnchains pass to their respective yarn tension rolls. This means comprisesa ring 72, Fig. 4, through which one of the yarn chains is passed whenthe ends of the yarn chains are first separated prior to thecommencement of the machine operation. The ring 72 is preferably placedupon one of the yarnchams as 70 between the guides 42- at the lower partof the unwrapping mechanism, and the guides 68 through which theseparated chains pass. If one of the yarns 73,, for instance, whichbelongs to the chain 69 should cling to the yarn chain 70 as the yarnchains 69, 70 are separated,

the ring 72 will be lifted by the single yarn 73 and the weight of such.ring will be sufficient to detach the yarn 73 from the yarn chain 70 andcause itto move with its own yarn chain. V

The ring device hereinbefore described is preferably a loose ring andpresents a simple and eflicient means for preventing the yarns of oneyarn chain fromclingiiig to the yarns of another yam chain and be brokenas the chains separate and pass to their re-- spective tension rolls.

As the separated yarn chains pass from their respective tension rolls25, they are delivered to the delivery chutes 74, Figs. 3 and 4, whichextend downward from the frame 21 and are given suitable traversemovement to lay the yarn chains in a desired pile. Any suitable meansmay be provided for properly vibrating the chutes 74, but as hereinshown, said chutes are suspended from a shaft by means of suit ablebracket arms 76 secured thereto. Pivotally connected at 77 to each ofthe brackets 76 is an arm 78 whereby the chutes 74 ma be rocked abouttheir pivotal mounting 7 as a center. Means are provided to act upon oneof the chutes to secure the desired vibratory movement thereof, asindicated in Fig. 4, and the chutes are connected by a bar 79 wherebythey move in unison. A good form of means for thus imparting thevibratory movement to the chutes 74 to lay the yarns in a desired formof piles, is indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, wherein there is looselymounted upon the shaft 75 a sleeve 80 to which is secured the gear 81and worm 82, the latter of which is in operative engagement with a wormwheel 83 connected by a link 84 to the arm 78 secured to one of thechutes. The connection of the link 84 to the arm 78 preferably isadjustable as by means of the slot 85 which is engaged by the pin 86connected to the link 84. From the construction described, it will beapparent that upon rotation of the gear 81 and worm 82, the chutes willbe vibrated or rocked as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. To operatethe worm 82, the gear 81 is engaged by an idle gear 86 actuated by agear 92 secured to the driving shaft 23, Fig. 6, but any otherappropriate driving connections may be employed.

It is evident from the construction thus far described that the chute 74will lay the yarn chains 69 and 70 back and forth in the same verticalplane, but it is desirable that such back-and-forth movement shall beprogressively in different vertical planes to form a rectangular pilesuch as indicated at B, Fig. 1; and to this end the present inventionprovides means for rocking the shaft 7 5 to which the bracket arms 76are secured. To this end, the shaft 75 has extending downward therefromthe slotted link 87 to which is adjustably connected one end of a pitman88, the other end of which is pivoted at 89 to the face of a gear orpinion 90, carried in suitable bearings provided by the brackets 91extending downward from the frame 21. The gear or pinion is rotated bysuitable connections with the driving shaft 23 as by the gear 92, theconstruction being such that upon rotation of the main driving shaft 23,the delivery chutes 74 will be vibrated to lay the unwrapped yarn chains69 and 70 in suitable superposed horizontal layers.

From the construction heretofore described as one embodiment of thepresent invention. it will be understood that the wrapped yarn chain isdrawn from the source of supply and fed toward the unupon to insure thatnotwithstanding such association of different yarn chains, of one chainwill be effectively from the yarns of the other chain or chains withoutdanger of breaking. These features of the invention will be understoodthe yarns the yarn cham and" separated I by those skilled in the art, aswell as the I advantages incident to the bleaching or dyemg of aplurality of yarn chains wrapped by the same cord or thread whereby thebleaching and dyeing of the several associated yarn chains will affectthem all alike, as for instance, in the dyeing operation, the color ofall threads of one set of yarn chains will be the same. I

Various changes may be made in the details of the invention and some ofthe features thereof may be conjointly or' separately used withoutdepartin from the true scope of the invention as efined by the claims.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism for unwinding a cord or thread from the yarn-chain,a receiver for said cord or thread, means acting upon the wrappedportion of the yarn-chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism forpositively drawing the wrapped chain from a source of supply and feedingit toward the unwrapping mechanism, and means acting upon the yarn-chainafter it has been unwrapped for pulling upon and maintaining theyarn-chain under uniform tension as it is fed toward the unwrappingmechanism by said drawing and feeding means.

2. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism for unwinding a cord or thread from the yarn-chain,a receiver for said cord or thread, means acting upon the wrappedportion of the yarn-chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism forpositively drawing the wrapped chain from a source, of supply andfeeding it toward the unwrapping mechanism, means for varying the actionof the feeding means upon the wrapped yarn chain to vary the speed atwhich the wrapped portion ofthe chain shall be fed toward the unwrappingmechanism, and

- supplied by said drawing and feeding means.

3. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism for unwinding a cord or thread from the yarn-chain,a receiver upon which said cord or thread is wound as it comes from theyarn-chain, means acting upon the chain before it reaches the saidmechanism from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwindingmechanism, and means having a surface speed greater than the speed ofthe chain for drawing it from the unwrapping machine.

4. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarn chains, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a pluralnumber of the chains, a receiver for said cord or thread, means actingupon the Wrapped portion of the chain for positively drawing the wrappedchains from a source of supply and feeding them toward said unwrappingmechanism, means for separating the chains, and means acting separatelyupon the unwrapped portion of the separated yarn chains for maintainingthem under uniform tension as the wrapped chains approach the unwrappingmechanism, as they are unwrapped by said mechanism, and as they passfrom said mechanism after being unwrapped.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of unwrappingmechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain forpositively drawing it from a source of supply and feeding it toward theunwrapping mechanism, connections between said means and mechanism forcausing them to be driven at proportional speeds to maintain the angulardeparture of the wrapping cord or thread from the yarn chainsubstantially constant, and means acting upon the unwrapped portion ofthe yarn chain for pulling upon and maintaining the yarn chain underunvarying tension as it travelsto and through the unwrapping mechanism.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of unwrappingmechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a yarn chain, meansacting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chain for positively feedingthe chain toward the unwrapping mechanism, driving connections betweenthe unwrapping mechanism and positive feeding means to maintain theangle at which the wrapping cord or thread leaves the yarn chainsubstantially constant, means for causing a variation between the linearspeed at which the wrapped chain is fed and the speed of the unwrappingmechanism for changing the angle at which the wrapping ,ees

cord or thread leaves the yarn chain, and means acting upon theunwrapped portion of the chain for maintaining the yarn chain undertension.

7. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarni chains, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, a drawing and feeding cone for drawing the yarnchain from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrappingmechanism, a tension roll having a greater surface speed than thedrawing and feeding cone and acting upon the unwrapped portion of theyarn chain to maintain it under tension as it is fed by the drawing andfeeding cone.

8. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarn chain, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, a drawing and feeding cone for drawing the yarnchain from a source of supply and feeding it toward the unwrappingmechanism, a tension roll, of greater diameter than the greatestdiameter of the cone and acting upon the unwrapped portion of the yarnchain as it is fed by the cone.

9. A yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, comprising in its construction anunwrapping mechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of theyarn-chain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism to feed theyarn-chain positively at desired speed toward the unwrapping mechanism,and

means acting upon the yarn chain with slipping friction after it hasbeen unwrapped, said two means cooperating to maintain unvarying traveland tension of the yarn chain as it is fed to, through, and beyond theunwrapping mechanism.

10. A yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, comprising in its construction anunwrap ping mechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarnchain before it reaches the unwrapping mechanism to feed the yarn chainpositively at desired speed toward the unwrapping mechanism, meansacting upon the yarn chain at a surface speed exceeding that of thepositive feeding means after it has been unwrapped for drawing it fromthe unwrapping mechanism, and means for changing the rate of speed atwhich the wrapped chain is fed toward the unwrapping mechanism.

11. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination ofunwinding mechanism, a main drawing and feeding cone located between thesource of yarn-chain supply and unwrapping mechanism and acting upon thewrapped portion of the yarn chain to feed it forward toward saidmechanism, a smooth surfaced tension roll to act upon the unwrappedportion of yarn chain. and means for operating the drawing and feedmgcone and smooth surfaced tension roll at difi'erent surface speeds.

12. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarnchains, the combination ofunwinding mechanism, a main drawing and feedin cone located between thesource of yarn-c ain supply and unwrapping mechanism and acting upon thewrapped portion of the yarn chain to feed it forward toward saidmechanism, a smooth surfaced tension roll to act upon the unwrappedportion of yarn chain, an idle cone and idle roll to act upon the yarnchain as it passes about the drawing and feeding cone and tension rollrespectively,

and means for effecting greater surface speed to the tension roll thanthe drawing and feeding cone. p

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality ofyarn chains, a feed ng cone between the unwrapping mechanism and sourceof yam-chain supply actmg upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chainsfor positively feeding them toward the unwrapping mechanism, means forseparating the yarn chains as they are progressively unwrapped, andmeans acting upon the unwrapped portion of the separated yarn chains todraw them from the unwrapping mechanism.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination .ofunwrappmg mechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality ofyarn chains, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chainsfor positively drawmg the wrapped yarn chains from a source of supplyand feeding them toward the unwrappmg mechanism, means for separatlngthe yarn chalns as they are unwrapped, means acting upon the unwrappedportion of the separated yarn chains to draw them from the unwrappingmechanism, and means for stopplng the operation of the apparatus shouldthe chains fail to be separated.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, mechanism forunwrafpping a cord or thread from a plurality o yarn chains about whichit'is wrapped, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the yarn chainsfor feeding the yarn chains to said mechanism, means for guiding theindividual yarn chains into different paths as they leave the unwrappingmechanism, means acting separately upon the unwrapped chains formaintaining the yarn chains under unvarying tension as they are movedtoward, through, and beyond the unwrapping mechanism, and means forstopp ng the unwrapping mechanism and feedmg means if the chains fail tobe separated into their different paths. 1

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ofmechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality of-yarnchains about which it 1s wrapped, means acting upon the wrappedyarn-chains for feeding the yarn chains to the unwrapping mechanism,means for guidmg the individual yarn chains into different paths as theyare unwrapped, rolls actmg separately upon the unwrapped yarn chainsafter they have been separated to move the yarn chains with uniformspeed to and through the unwrapping mechanism, and

stopping means having a part extending beyarn-chains under unvaryingtension and travel as they pass through the unwrapping mechanism, andmeans for stopping the unwrapping mechanism and feeding means if thechains fail to be separated into their different paths.

18. In an. apparatus of the character described, the combination ofmechanism for unwrapping a cord or thread from a plurality of yarnchains about which it is wrapped, means for feeding the yarn chains tothe unwrapping mechanism, individual yarn chain guiding means forseparating and directing the yarn chains into separate paths as they areunwrapped, and means acting yieldingly between the yarn chains as theyare separated to prevent a yarn of one chain from following anotherchain to 'which it does not belong.

'19. In a machine for unwinding from a plurality of yarn chains the cordor thread by which the yarn chains are held together, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, yarn chain feeding means, means for separating theyarn chains as they are unwrapped, and means acting upon one of the yarnchains for separating a yarn 'of one chain from the yarns of anotherchain to which it may cling when the yarn chains are separated.

20. In a machine for unwinding from a plurality of yarn chains the cordor thread by which said chains are held together, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, means for feeding the yarn chains, means forseparating the yarn chains as they are --'fed and unwrapped, and a yarnseparator 3 ,by which said chains are held together,

the combination of unwrapping mechanism, means for feeding the yarnchains, means for separating the yarn chains as they are fed andunwrapped, and a loose ring yarn' separator through which one of theyarn chains passes for detaching therefrom a yarn of another chain thatmay cling to the yarn chain passing through the loose 2%. In a machinefor unwinding from a plurality of yarn chains the cord or thread bywhich said chains are held together, the combination of unwrappingmechanism, means acting upon the wrapped portion of the plural yarnchains for positively draw ing them from a source of supply and feedingthem toward the unwrapping mechanism, guiding means for separating theindividual yarn chains after they have been unwrapped, tension means foracting on the unwrapped portions of the individual yarn chains, and ayarn separator supported by the unwrapped portion of one of the yarnchains while under tension to separate therefrom a yarn of another chainthat mav cling thereto.

24. In a yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, the combination of unwrappingmechanism, a shaft mounted between the source of yarn chain supply andsaid unwrapping mechanism, operating connections between said shaft andunwinding mechanism for driving them at proportional speeds, positivedrawing and feeding means mounted on said shaft for drawing the wrappedyarn chain from the source of supply and feeding it toward theunwrapping mechanism, and tension means also mounted on said shaft andacting on the unwrapped portion of the yarn chain for maintaining itunder tension as it passes to and from the unwinding mechanism.

25. In a yarn chain unwrapping apparatus, the combination of unwrappingmechanism, a shaft mounted between the source of yarn chain supply andsaid unwrapping mechanism, operating connections between said shaft andunwinding mechanism for driving them at proportional speeds, a positivedrawing and feeding cone mounted on said shaft and acting on the yarnchain before it is unwrapped for positively drawing it from the sourceof supply and feeding it unwrapped, and operating connections betweenthe drawing and feeding cone, the tension roll, and unwinding mechanismfor causing operation of said parts at proportional speeds.

27. In an apparatus for unwrapping yarn chains, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, a positive drawing and feeding cone for drawingthe wrapped chain from the source of supply and feeding it toward theunwrapping mechanism, a tension roll for acting upon the chain after ithas been unwrapped, and operating connections between the drawing andfeeding cone, the tension roll, and the unwinding mechanism for causingoperation of said parts at proportional speeds, and adjustable means fordirecting the wrapped portion of the yarn chain as it comes from thesource of supply to difi'erent portions of the positive drawing andfeeding cone.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, a feeding cone between the unwrapping mechanismand yarn chain supply, operative connections between the feeding coneand unwrapping mechanism, and a tension roll having a surface speedgreater than that of the cone to maintain the yarn chain under tensionand at uniform speed as it passes from the feeding cone to and throughthe unwrapping mechanism.

29. In a machine of the character described, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, a feeding cone between the unwrapping mechanismand yarn chain supply, means operable at will for directing theunwrapped yarn chain to different portions longitudinally of the cone,operatlve connections between the feeding cone and unwrapping mechanism,and a tension roll having a surface speed greater than that of the-coneto maintain the yarn chain under tension and at uniform speed as itpasses from the feeding cone to and through the unwrapping mechanism.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination ofunwrapping mechanism, a support between the unwrapping mechanism andsource of yarn chain supply, a feeding cone and tension roll mounted onsaid support, means for driving the tension roll at relatively highersurface speedsthan that of the feeding cone to feed the unwrapped chainto and through the unwrapping mechanism under uniform tension and atunvarying speed.

31. In a machine of the character described, the combination of yarnchain unwrapping mechanism, feeding means between the source of yarnchain supply and the unwrapping mechanism, a device acting frictionallyon the yarn chain after it has been unwrapped to maintain uniformtension and speed in the yarn chain as it passes through the unwrappingmechanism, a

guide for the wrapped yarn chain between the feeding means and thesource of supply, 15 stopping means, and connections between thestopping means and guide to operate the former when the guide is movedby a snarl in the wrapped yarn chain.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 20 name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT W. OWEN.

Witnesses:

H. D. HonoKI N, W. F. Ronnms.

